Volkswagen presented at the Tokyo Motor Show a plug-in hybrid version of the up!, called the twin up! concept car.
This four-seat vehicle shares certain parts of its drive system with the VW XL1, including its diesel engine, electric motor, and DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission.
VW said the only modification made to the up! production version was to lengthen the short front overhang by 1.2 inches. The twin up!’s 55 kilowatt powerplant, consisting of a 35 kilowatt 0.8-liter TDI Clean Diesel engine, a 35 kilowatt electric motor, a seven-speed DQ200 DSG transmission, and the power electronics, is mounted at the front of the car.
Installed at the back, behind the rear seats and under the trunk is an 8.6 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery, the 12-volt battery for the electrical system and an 8.7-gallon diesel fuel tank.
Equipped with low rolling resistance 165/65 R15 tires, VW said the concept car returns a low fuel consumption figure of 214 mpg in the “New European Driving Cycle.”
In the city, in electric mode, the twin up! is said to accelerate from 0 to 37 mph in 8.8 seconds on its way to a top speed of 78 mph. Out of town, the twin up! goes from 0 to 62 mpg in 15.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 87 mph.
VW explained the hybrid module is located between the TDI engine and the seven-speed DSG transmission: it consists of an electric motor and a clutch, integrated in the DSG housing in place of the usual flywheel.
Under braking, the electric motor operates as a generator with braking energy being used to charge the battery under regeneration. In certain operating conditions, the load of the TDI engine can be shifted so that it operates at its most favorable efficiency level. The gears in the DSG transmission are also always selected with the aim of minimizing energy usage.
By applying the XL1 components to this high-volume production car, VW is giving hopes to many that this fuel efficient powerplant will see greater production numbers.